Situated on the Mobile Bay, Mobile, Alabama acts as a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. Shipping traffic is abundant here, as is evident by the railroad traffic. Five roads serve the Mobile area including CSX, Norfolk Southern, Illinois Central, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and the Terminal Railway-Alabama State Docks railroad. CSX provides through service to Pascagoula, MS and has the largest operation in Mobile. Mobile area manufacturers include refined petroleum, food products, textiles, and paper. More than 30 oceangoing ships can be docked at Mobile's port.

Mobile can be a great area to railfan, as the rail traffic is brisk, and many areas are accessible for fanning without trespassing on private property.

Update:BNSF's operations in Mobile, AL have been sold to the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, which now operates this section of trackage!

This switcher was spotted in the Frascati Shops near McDuffie Coal Terminal near Yeend St. Not sure the status on this unit - the exhaust stacks appear to be sealed off so I assume it is not currently running.

File Size: 274 KBytes · Downloads: 3233 · Uploaded: May 11,2008

Here is a roster shot of TASD MP15 801 in Mobile, AL.

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The only MP15-AC operated by the TASD drags a cut of cars near downtown Mobile, AL.

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The engine house of The Terminal Railway - Alabama State Docks is shown here near the Alabama State Docks and CSX's Sibert yard in Mobile, AL.

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A pair of TASD MP15s appear to be kept at the McDuffie Island Coal Terminal in Mobile, AL for switching. Here a pair rests before the next work call.

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A single Alabama & Gulf Coast EMD delivers a car to the CSX near the Port of Mobile in Mobile, AL.

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The TASD or Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks runs an operation at the state docks in Mobile, AL. Here is some of their power awaiting the next call to duty.

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A TASD switcher, lettered as the "City of Huntsville" rests between duties near the McDuffie Coal Terminal. Some parts of the terminal are visible from Yeend St in Mobile, AL.

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A TASD switcher, lettered as the "City of Mobile" rests between duties near the McDuffie Coal Terminal.

File Size: 263 KBytes · Downloads: 2587 · Uploaded: May 11,2008

A TASD local with a single MP15DC heads back towards their yard in Mobile after working industries across the Industrial Canal.

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Another shot of a TASD local as seen from Paper Mill Road. It was heading back towards their yard in Mobile after working industries across the Industrial Canal.

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An Alabama & Gulf Coast local delivers a cut of cars to the CSX in Mobile, AL.

File Size: 281 KBytes · Downloads: 3135 · Uploaded: May 11,2008

A TASD local rolls off the drawbridge over the Industrial Canal and back in to their yard near the Alabama State Docks in Mobile, AL.

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An Alabama & Gulf Coast local heads through the tight curve to return to their yard after delivering interchange cars to CSX/TASD. As seen from Telegraph Rd.

File Size: 278 KBytes · Downloads: 2803 · Uploaded: May 11,2008

Another shot of the Alabama & Gulf Coast local as it heads through the tight curve to return to their yard after delivering interchange cars to CSX/TASD. A grain elevator at the state docks is visible in the background.

A Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (TASD) yard job pulls a cut of cars in their yard near the Alabama State Docks. This video is a bit shaky as I actually shot it with my digital still camera. The blue-green building behind the train is the TASD engine house.

An Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway yard job rounds a tight curve to enter back in to their own yard after delivering interchange cars to the CSX and TASD. This was taken from Telegraph Road near what used to be the BNSF yard office which is now owned/operated by the AGR.